Anyone can buy plants, but growing them yourself from seeds is a challenge and fulfilling for many dedicated gardeners. In the case of the easy-care Sweet William, this challenge is relatively easy and can be mastered with good success, even for beginners.
You can collect the seeds for sowing the Sweet William yourself
Buy seeds or collect them yourself?
Whether you collect or buy the seeds from your existing Sweet William is a matter of time, taste and what you like. The collected seeds are not pure in color but resemble a surprise bag. It will probably grow a motley mixture of Sweet William. In addition, collecting them costs you a little time and you have to let them mature on the plants beforehand.
Purchased seeds are available immediately and in large numbers and are usually pre-sorted. You can get colorful assortments of either single-flowering or double carnations, but also seeds of a specific color.
Prefer indoors or sow outdoors?
The hardy sweet willow flowers are among the flowers that you should sow outdoors if possible. Sowing in a nursery bed is also recommended here, but it is not necessary to grow the sweet William in warm indoor areas.
It germinates quite well in normal spring temperatures. However, you should think early on about whether you would like to have Sweet William in your garden, because they only flower in their second year.
How to sow carnations
From around the end of April you can sow carnations directly outdoors. Scatter the seed thinly over the prepared bed, covering just a thin layer of soil. Always keep the seeds slightly moist but not wet during germination. When the young plants are about 10 - 15 cm tall, plant them in a sunny spot where they should flower the following year.
The essentials in brief:
- Best sow outdoors
- Keep seeds moist during germination
- Transplant young plants until October
- Sweet William blooms only in the second year
tips
It is best to sow sweet William directly outdoors. You can do this from April through to summer.